Ekanem’s decision is one of two received from in-state prospects by Virginia Tech on national signing day, as WR Joel Caleb (Midlothian) also picked the Hokies. However, there was one prominent in-state prospect that got away, when DT Korren Kirven (Lynchburg) picked Alabama.

Ekanem is a 6-3, 235-pounder who tore his ACL late in the season, and thus may be redshirting in 2012.

“I knew I had the right school in mind when a month back or two months back, Virginia Tech told me before the that even if you tear your ACL, you’ll have a scholarship no matter what happened,” Ekanem said, per The Roanoke Times.